Powder Dispensing Device

ABSTRACT

A powder dispensing device for dispensing powder may include a powder application device for dispensing the powder and a handle connected to the powder application device to allow the user to manipulate the powder dispensing device to dispense powder evenly and without wasting large amounts of powder. The powder application device may include an enclosure having access by a displaceable lid to store the powder and includes a flexible powder dispensing housing being permeable to dispense the powder from the cavity. The powder application device includes a bottom wall having apertures to connect the enclosure with the powder dispensing housing and tubes to provide unobstructed pathways from the enclosure o the flexible powder dispensing housing. A handle may include a hook or aperture for hanging the device. The enclosure of the powder application device comprises curved sidewalls, a curved front wall and a curved back wall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Continuation-in-part application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of application Ser. No. 14/197,240 filed on Mar. 5, 2014 entitled POWDER DISPENSING DEVICE, and also claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of Application No. 62/323,104 filed on Apr. 15, 2016 also entitled POWDER DISPENSING DEVICE and all of whose entire disclosures are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a cosmetic container, more particularly to a hygienic cosmetic container for applying body powder.

2. Description of Related Art

Hygiene is increasingly important on all occasions, to the point where they have become basic manners. One aspect of good hygiene is the application of powder to a person's skin, both young and old. However, most conventional powder application devices, or simply the powder storage container itself, exhibit a powder flow rate that is uncontrolled and the end result is that unnecessary powder flows out, thereby wasting powder, and not applying it evenly.

The following references are related to devices for applying materials to a person's body: U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,591 (McCracken); U.S. Pat. No. 6,523,550 (McCormick); U.S. Pat. No. 6,550,996 (Rayfield) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,510 (Lee).

However, the powder flow rate of conventional cosmetic containers is not controlled. As a result, unnecessary powder flows out, which wastes too much powder and fails to evenly apply it to the skin. Therefore, there are some issues of inconvenience, which need to be improved.

Thus, there remains a need for an improved powder application device that is easy to use and which applies powder evenly on a person's skin during use while minimizing wasting powder.

All references cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A powder dispensing device for dispensing powder is disclosed. The powder dispensing device comprises: an enclosure adapted to receive a powder therein, wherein the enclosure has an opening, covered by a displaceable lid (e.g., removable or hinged), on a first side of the enclosure and having a second side, opposite said first side, having a plurality of apertures on said second side; a flexible powder dispensing housing included on a second side of said enclosure, said flexible powder dispensing housing being permeable to dispense the powder that passes from said enclosure through said plurality of apertures; and a handle having a distal end and a proximal end wherein said distal end connected to said enclosure and said proximal end is spaced from said enclosure, said handle further comprising a grasping portion that allows a user to manipulate the powder dispensing device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of the powder dispensing device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the powder dispensing device of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the powder dispensing device of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a back view of the powder dispensing device of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a partial view of an application tool of the powder dispensing device;

FIG. 6 illustrates an end view of the powder dispensing device of the present invention;

FIG. 7A is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the powder dispensing device using a hinged lid and showing it an open condition and with the flexible powder dispensing housing omitted for clarity;

FIG. 7B is a side view of the second embodiment with the lid shown in an open condition and with the flexible powder dispensing housing shown in phantom;

FIG. 7C is a top view of the second embodiment with the lid shown in an open condition;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the second embodiment with the lid omitted for clarity;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the second embodiment with the lid shown in a latched closed condition and with the flexible powder dispensing housing shown in phantom; and

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the second embodiment with the lid and the flexible powder dispensing housing omitted for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a partial exploded perspective view of the powder dispensing device 100, and FIG. 1 may illustrate that the distal end of the handle 101 may be connected to a powder application device 103. The powder application device 103 may be substantially oval in shape and may be formed from metal, plastic, wood or other rigid material and may include a pair of opposing near mirror sidewalls 105, a front wall 107 which may connect to the side walls 105 and may be curved, a back wall 109 which may connect to the side walls, which may connect to the handle 101 and may be curved, a bottom wall 111 which may connect to the side walls 105, the front wall 107 and the back wall 109 and which may be substantially planar and may include apertures 113 to allow powder which may be stored in the cavity 115 (also referred to as “enclosure 115”) which may be defined by the side walls 105, the front wall 107, the back wall 109, the bottom wall 111 and the top wall 117 which may be a detachably connected lid. As shown in FIG. 1, the top wall 117 may include a retaining finger 119 which may extend from the top wall 117 to retain the top wall 117 over the cavity 115. The front wall 107, back wall 109 and sidewall 105 may include an inclined edge 121 to cooperate with an inclined edge 123 of the top wall 117 to form a seal to retain the powder within the cavity 115.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the powder application device 103 may include a flexible powder dispensing housing 123 which may include a lip 125 which may extend around the housing side wall 127 to cooperate with a sidewall channel 129 which may be formed around the sidewall 105, the front wall 107 and the back wall 109 in order to retain the flexible powder dispensing housing 123. The aperture 113 in the bottom wall 111 may allow the powder to move from the cavity 119 to the flexible powder dispensing housing 123. The flexible powder dispensing housing 123 may include a housing bottom wall 131 which may be connected to the housing side wall 127. The flexible powder dispensing housing 123 comprises a fine-dense soft brush and may be formed from flexible material such as cloth, sponge, fur or other flexible material which may be permeable for the powder to move from the flexible powder dispensing housing 123 to the user. Where the fine-dense soft brush of the flexible powder dispensing housing 123 comprises filaments such as brush hairs, bristles or fibers, these are secured (e.g., adhesively-secured, etc.) to a second side 111A (FIG. 10) of the bottom wall 111 around a plurality of tubes 128 (FIG. 9). Each tube 128 forms a respective powder passageway from a respective aperture 113 in the enclosure 115 to the flexible powder dispensing housing 123. The tubes 128 provide unobstructed powder passageways within the fine-dense soft brush, thereby avoiding any blocked apertures 113 had the filaments been secured to the exterior side of the bottom wall 111 in the absence of the tubes 128.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side perspective view of the powder dispensing device 100, and FIG. 3 may illustrate that the distal end of the handle 101 may be connected to a powder application device 103. FIG. 3 illustrates a curved handle 101 which may be ergonomically designed. The powder application device 103 may be substantially oval in shape and may be formed from metal, plastic, wood or other rigid material and may include a pair of opposing near mirror sidewalls 105, a front wall 107 which may connect to the side walls 105 and may be curved, a back wall 109 which may connect to the side walls, which may connect to the handle 101 and may be curved, a bottom wall 111 which may connect to the side walls 105, the front wall 107 and the back wall 109 and which may be substantially planar and may include apertures 113 to allow powder which may be stored in the enclosure 115 which may be defined by the side walls 105, the front wall 107, the back wall 109, the bottom wall 111 and the top wall 117 which may be a detachably connected lid. The top wall 117 may include a retaining finger 119 which may extend from the top wall 117 to retain the top wall 117 over the cavity 115. The front wall 107, back wall 109 and sidewall 105 may include an inclined edge 121 to cooperate with an inclined edge 123 of the top wall 117 to form a seal to retain the powder within the cavity 115.

FIG. 3 illustrates that the powder application device 103 may include a flexible powder dispensing housing 123 which may include a lip 125 which may extend around the housing side wall 127 to cooperate with a sidewall channel 129 which may be formed around the sidewall 105, the front wall 107 and the back wall 109 in order to retain the flexible powder dispensing 123. The aperture 113 in the bottom wall 117 may allow the powder to move from the cavity 119 to the flexible powder dispensing housing 123 which may be hollow. The flexible powder dispensing housing 123 may include a housing bottom wall 131 which may be connected to the housing side wall 127. The flexible powder dispensing housing 123 may be formed from flexible material such as cloth, sponge, fur or other flexible material which may be permeable for the powder to move from the flexible powder dispensing housing 103 to the user.

FIG. 4 additionally illustrates that the handle 101 may include an application tool 104 at the proximate end of the handle 101.

FIG. 5 illustrates a sectional view of the application tool 104.

FIG. 2 illustrates the handle 101, the powder application device 103, the sidewall 105, the top wall 107, the back wall 109, the enclosure 115, the bottom wall 111 and the aperture 113. FIG. 2 additionally illustrates that the handle 101 may include a hook 102 at the proximate end of the handle 101.

FIG. 4 illustrates the handle 101, the sidewall 105, the top wall 107, the back wall 109, the enclosure 115, the bottom wall 111. FIG. 4 illustrates that the handle includes a hook 102 at the proximate end of the handle 101.

FIG. 6 illustrates an end view of the powder dispensing device of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A-10 depict a second embodiment of the powder dispensing device 200 which utilizes a hinged top wall 202 that closes off a powder storage enclosure 204. The enclosure 204 may comprise the same construction as the cavity/enclosure 115 (e.g., side walls 105, front wall 107, back wall 109, apertures 113, tubes 128) and is thus not discussed in any further detail; although the number of apertures and their arrangement (see FIG. 8) are different than in the first embodiment 100 (see FIG. 2), their operation is the same. A handle 206 (see FIGS. 7A-7C, for example) has a distal end 206A (FIGS. 8 and 10) attached to the back wall 109 of the enclosure 204 and has a proximal end 206B having a handle aperture 208 for permitting the powder dispensing device 200 to be hung on a hook, for example.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 8-10, the second embodiment 200 comprises an axle 210 for pivotally-mounting one end 202A of the hinged top wall 202 (hereinafter “lid 202”). The other end 202B of the lid 202 comprises a tab 212 that is received in a displaceable latch 214 that the user depresses to release the latch 214 and open the lid 202 (see FIGS. 7A-7C) to fill the cavity/enclosure 204 with powder. As a result, there is no concern for misplacing the lid 202 from the powder dispensing device 200. Once the enclosure 204 is filled with powder, the user simply presses the open end 202B downward against the latch 214 to releasably secure the lid 202 into a closed position (see FIG. 9).

It should be further noted that the dimensions shown in FIGS. 8-10 are by way of example only and are not meant, in any way, to be by way of limitation.

The first embodiment 100 and the second embodiment 200 may come in different sizes, for example, for use by adults and some smaller sizes for use on infants and toddlers.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A powder dispensing device for dispensing powder, comprising: an enclosure adapted to receive a powder therein, said enclosure having an opening, covered by a displaceable lid, on a first side of said enclosure and having a second side, opposite said first side, having a plurality of apertures on said second side; a flexible powder dispensing housing included on a second side of said enclosure, said flexible powder dispensing housing being permeable to dispense the powder that passes from said enclosure through said plurality of apertures; and a handle having a distal end and a proximal end wherein said distal end connected to said enclosure and said proximal end is spaced from said enclosure, said handle further comprising a grasping portion that allows a user to manipulate the powder dispensing device.
 2. The powder dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of apertures are arranged from a proximal end to a distal end of said enclosure along a longitudinal axis of said enclosure; and
 3. The powder dispensing device of claim 1 wherein the handle includes a hook.
 4. The powder dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said enclosure comprises a proximal end that is connected to said handle and wherein said proximal end comprises curved back wall.
 5. The powder dispensing device of claim 4 wherein said enclosure comprises curved sidewalls.
 6. The powder dispensing device of claim 5 wherein said enclosure comprises a distal end, opposite said proximal end, and wherein said distal end comprises a curved wall.
 7. The powder dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said enclosure is substantially oval-shaped.
 8. The powder dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said displaceable lid is a removable lid.
 9. The powder dispensing device of claim 1 wherein said displaceable lid is a hinged lid.
 10. The powder dispensing device of claim 9 further comprising a latch for releasably securing said lid to said enclosure. 